Crime & Safety

Connecticut Man Arrested in 'Puppy Doe' Case

The man allegedly tortured the dog so bad it had to be put down.

By Gary Jeanfaivre

Police believe they have caught the man responsible for one of the most horrific cases of animal abuse in Massachusetts' history.

The break in a case that captured the attention of Americans across the country came Monday, when police arrested a 32-year-old Polish man at a hotel in New Britain, CT.

According to a report by the Patriot Ledger, Radoslaw Czerkawski was arrested on 11 counts of animal cruelty and one charge of misleading investigators. Czerkawski, who was reportedly in the U.S. on an expired tourist visa, was extradited to Massachusetts.

According to previously published reports on Patch, “Puppy Doe” was a young adult female dog found Aug. 31 in Quincy, MA. When found, she weighed less than half what a normal, healthy dog her size should. She was starved, beaten and tortured, and due to the extent of her injuries she could not be saved by veterinarians.

Puppy Doe's story was so powerful it prompted Bay State lawmakers to introduce a bill that would create an Animal Abuse Registry, much like a Sex Offender Registry.

It also led to the creation of a Facebook page, Justice for Puppy Doe, that now has more than 65,000 fans. The page rejoiced over the news of an arrest in the case.

"Today is a great day in the battle for justice for Puppy Doe and a great day for people who fight for animal rights every single day. We say it's got to stop & we aren't going anywhere!"


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